TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. ENROLMENT & CONFIRMATION

By enrolling, you accept the contract and conditions of the Swiss French School (Swiss Language Group SA), hereafter known as SLG. The enrolment can be handwritten/ sent by fax (enrolment form), or made by telephone/orally. Once we have received notification of your enrolment, we will confirm your language stay within 14 days. We will inform you in a timely manner and offer an alternative course if the course or any other aspect of your language trip (such as accommodation, activities, etc.) are unavailable.

The total amount in foreign currency, relative to your trip, is converted into Swiss Francs the day your invoice is issued (approx. 6 weeks prior to your departure). We apply an exchange rate based on the inflated interbank rate of the day in order to cover exchange risks. The choice to pay in foreign currency needs to be specified at the time of the initial booking. International banking fees will be charged for any money transfer made to SLG.

2. PAYMENT

2.1 The deposit amount of 50% of the total fees quoted is to be paid upon reception of the enrolment confirmation. The balance is due at the latest 6 weeks prior to the course start. If the booking is made less than 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the course, the total amount of your fees is requested at the time of enrolment and to be paid by credit card or bank transfer.

2.2 The total payment must be received by us prior to your departure. In the case of non-payment of the deposit and/or balance, your booking may be cancelled by SLG (according to the conditions of cancellation in point 4). Your file will be sent to you following reception of the full payment (around 10 days prior to your departure).

2.3 Methods of Payment:

The course fees must be paid by any of the following means: A) By credit card
B) By bank transfer to the following account:

Name of Bank: Banque Cantonal Vaudoise
Address: 1001 Lausanne
Account Holder: Swiss Language Group SA

Account Holder address: PLACE DE LA GARE 11 A - 1006 LAUSANNE
Account: K 0932.79.59 IBAN: CH09 0076 7000 H539 0689 7
SWIFT: BCVLCH2LXXX Clearing Number: 767

3. CHANGES TO BOOKING

3.1 Prior to your departure
For every change in booking taking place prior to your departure, we invoice a fee of minimum CHF 100.- A change of school is considered as a cancellation in accordance with the conditions specified in point 4.

3.2 Following your departure
Following your departure, any change in the initial arrangement does not entail a reopening of your file. If you intend to leave the school prematurely, wish to change your accommodation option or want to ask for any other change you must contact the school directly. If the change is with regard to a complaint, refer to point 12.

4. CANCELLATION

4.1 Concerning language studies abroad
a) Any potential cancellation needs to be sent to us by registered letter. If the cancellation occurs more than 30 days prior to your departure, a fee of 10% of the total value of your booking (minimum CHF 200.-) is invoiced to you.
b) If your cancellation occurs less than 30 days prior to your departure, you will be charged the following fees:
from 29 to 15 days prior to the departure 20%
from 14 to 8 days prior to the departure 40%
from 7 to 1 days prior to the departure 80%
from the 1st day of your stay or in the case of an early return, no refund is granted.

4.2 Cancellation due to Visa Denial
If you are forced to cancel the course due to visa denial after a timely visa application, all payments and deposits will be returned subject to a CHF 400.- cancellation fee. You will need to present a document demonstrating the visa denial at least 2 weeks prior to your departure. If we have not received such a document at least 2 weeks prior to your departure, cancellation fees in accordance with the conditions specified in point 4.1 b will apply.

5. CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION INTO DESTINATION COUNTRY

5.1 All of the conditions imposed by your trip abroad (obtaining a visa, valid insurance, customs formalities, etc.) are your responsibility. We provide you with the information given by the embassies and help you in the steps towards obtaining a visa. You are responsible for respecting all of the major instructions concerning your journey. If you fail to do so, the fees, in particular the cancellation fees, will be at your expense, except if it is due to false information or the non–transmission of information from SLG.

6. RESERVED RIGHTS OF THE ORGANISER

6.1 SLG reserves the right to refuse an enrolment or to expel a participant if their behaviour detracts from the smooth running of the programme, if it contravenes the rules of the establishment or if it breaks the law of the host country, all of the fees, including the return journey, fines, etc. are at the expense of the participant or of the parents. The participants, or their legal guardian, are also responsible for any damages or losses caused during their stay.

7. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ORGANISER

7.1 SLG cannot be held responsible for the impossibility of assuring the services initially planned by reason of failure of its service providers, conflicts, or serious problems outside of its control. SLG is responsible as a language travel agent for the authenticity of its brochure, the accuracy of its content, the conscientious choice of the service providers as well as the passing on of travel documents to the point of sale/client.

7.2 SLG can in no case be held responsible in the case of an accident in the place of the stay or during the journey. Only the responsibility of the service provider e.g. the airline company... can become involved.

7.3 SLG assumes no responsibility for compensation requests linked to airline agreements. The passenger is notified that SLG does not organise airline journeys and only intervenes in the matter as an intermediary. In this regard, we attract your attention to the terms and conditions of the partner travel agency.

7.4 Under no circumstances can SLG be held liable for any loss resulting from illness, accident or inconvenience caused by poor service provided by any agent appointed by SLG. Neither will SLG be responsible for the loss of any valuables, personal items, money, etc. unless such losses were due to deliberate negligence on the part of SLG.

7.5 SLG reserves the right to change, without prior notice, the content of its brochure as well as the chosen service providers.

8. CANCELLATION OF COURSES

8.1 SLG may cancel a course in the case of unforeseeable circumstances, by order of the authorities, a strike, civil unrest or other restrictive reasons. The total amount paid for the course is immediately returned, however, in all cases, SLG will keep a compensation for the services partially provided.

9. MINIMUM OF PARTICPANTS

9.1In the event that it is not possible to achieve the minimum number of participants required for a language course (4 students for a group course), SLG will notify the contract partner at least three weeks prior to the commencement of the course. SLG will be able to provide a replacement course via it’s alternative “Flex intensive” until such time as the numbers are sufficient. Under no circumstances will SLG pay compensation for any inconvenience or loss of time.

9. PRICE CHANGES

9.1 SLG reserves the right to modify the prices in the case of unpredictable changes, such as monetary fluctuations, an increase in transport costs, the introduction or increase of State taxes like airport taxes or VAT. If the increase is more than 20% of the rate confirmed by SLG, you have the right to terminate your contract with SLG by registered post, within the 10 days following our confirmation. without paying any charge.

10. COMPLAINTS

10.1 Any complaint must be made directly to the school and during the duration of your stay. If your approach to the school is not effective, contact SLG. If the problem cannot be solved directly, you can demand a written report from the school and address it to us with your complaint, at the latest 30 days following your return. Any complaint made after this deadline is inadmissible.

11. COURSE MATERIAL

11.1 All of the course material is not systematically included in the price of the stay. In this case, it is to be paid on-site and varies depending on the development of your language level (duration of stay), according to the chosen program (specific courses, exam preparation courses), or according to the personal needs of the students (support, one-to-one classes).

The price of course material varies between CHF 40 and CHF 100.

12. BANK HOLIDAYS

12.1 If teaching does not take place on bank holidays and if the classes are not made up for by our partner schools, the missed hours are not reimbursed.

13. COURSE CHANGES

13.1 According to the number of participants, their language level or the season, our partner schools are sometimes obliged to replace booked group courses by one-to-one classes (of fewer lessons). These changes do not give way to any refund.

14. PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL

14.1 SLG reserves the right to keep and/or use, for promotional purposes, the images and photographs which were taken within its partner schools or within the framework of a language study trip abroad in agreement with the participants. In return, SLG commits itself to confidentiality and discretion, in order to preserve the rights and goods of its clients, in accordance with the legislation in force.

15. RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATIONS

15.1 Organisations of our respective partner schools.

16. PLACE OF JURISDICTION

Only the provisions of Swiss law are applicable in subsequent relations between you and SLG (Swiss Learning Group SA). The place of jurisdiction is Lausanne.

Swiss Language Group SA Headquarters
Place de la Gare 11 A CH-1003 Lausanne
T: +41 21 614 66 14
E: [email protected]